Cambridge, Mass. — Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), a vital and innovative community health system that serves Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston's metro-north region, has been named to Harvard Pilgrim Health Care’s 12th annual Physician Group Honor Roll. The 2013 Honor Roll highlights 61 physician groups in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire that have achieved exceptional results in their approach to disease prevention and the treatment of acute and chronic illness for both adult and pediatric patients, ranking among the top 25 percent of those measured nationally on a set of composite quality metrics.Harvard Pilgrim chose the Honor Roll physician groups based on clinical performance measured against national standards set by HEDIS® (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set), a tool developed for the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) to assess the clinical performance of doctors and other medical professionals. Harvard Pilgrim reviewed performance in acute, chronic, and preventive care and identified physician groups as Honor Roll practices based on achievement in 16 measures such as asthma management, comprehensive diabetes care, and breast cancer screenings.

“This recognition validates our approach to serving our complex patients as well as our commitment to quality and patient experience of care,” said Assaad Sayah, MD, CHA’s chief medical officer. “It signals we are a leading care provider for our communities and is critical as quality performance information increasingly becomes a tool that the public uses in selecting providers.”

Honor Roll practice providers are noted in Harvard Pilgrim’s printed and online provider directories, as well as on the organization’s web site and new Now iKnow cost and quality transparency tool, enabling members to evaluate and select physicians based on quality measures.

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care is a not-for-profit health plan serving more than one million members in New England. It is known for its excellent clinical programs, customer service, health improvement strategies, and innovative tools that offer consumers greater transparency and empower them to make better decisions about their health care. Harvard Pilgrim is the #1 private health plan in America according to an annual ranking of the nation’s best health plans by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).**NCQA’s Private Health Insurance Plan Rankings, 2011-14, HMO/POSCambridge Health Alliance is a vital and innovative community health system that provides essential services to Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston’s metro-north communities. It includes three hospital campuses, a network of primary care and specialty practices, and the Cambridge Public Health Dept. CHA is a Harvard Medical School teaching affiliate and is also affiliated with Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Tufts University School of Medicine.